Firstly - Admin please delete this post if it is deemed spamming, but I wanted to gauge interest in a new profile we are thinking of running. We need to guarantee a certain take up of the profile to economise on shipping costs, full batch runs etc.
As some of you will be aware, we have an exciting little profile called the thyroid check plus ten. It's based on our old advanced thyroid profile but we managed to add Ferritin, Folate, B12 and C Reactive Protein at the same time as we lowered the price.
We have located a reverse T3 assay that doesn't require freezing, so are considering adding this onto the PLUS TEN so patients would get
TSH
FT4
FT3
TT4
Thyroglobulin antibodies
Thyroid peroxidase antibodies
Ferritin
Folate
Vitamin B12 (Not active, sorry!)
C Reactive Protein
REVERSE T3
(Plus we'll probably try to beg the labs to add on another test to this - suggestions are welcome!)
We would aim for a price of around £160, but we cannot promise anything at the moment.
So if everyone can let me know if
a - they may be interested at ordering one at some point over the next year
and
b - what extra test they would suggest to add to the above
then I'll try to wrestle our labs into coming up with what we want, for the price that we want..
Thanks for helping out everybody.
TUK members would of course get a discount and we would also donate to the TUK charity with each request.
Best wishes,
Paul Harris
Clinical Support
Blue Horizon Medicals
Written by
BlueHorizonMedicals
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A Vacutainer is the traditional way to take blood - it involves a needle in the inside of the elbow area, and the vacutainers (the tubes with the coloured tops) are inserted into a vacutainer holder which is screwed onto the back of the needle. Due to the volume of blood they will hold - typically between 3 and 7ml they are the blood collection method of choice when it comes to large profiles.
You will need a health care professional to take your blood using this method - a phlebotomist, nurse or doctor should be able to do this, and it is the method used in GP surgeries and Hospitals around the world.
You may be charged for a private collection, or you may be able to get it done for free at your GP clinic or local Hospital.
It's a pain in the arm!
MICROTAINERS
A Microtainer is a trademarked term for a small tube of blood with a screw on coloured top. It will only collect about 0.7ml of blood, but this is often all that is needed for single tests or for small profiles.
These can be done at home using a lancet (small retractable push button needle) to the tip or top side of the finger - you then drip drops of blood into the tube, mix it with the anticoagulant by inverting it a few times and hey presto it's done.
Some people (about 1 in 8) have problems getting enough blood out. Reputable companies such as ourselves can then send you another kit free of charge to try again or offer a vacutainer kit or attendance at a local hospital.
I think Vit D would be the favourite but if this proved too expensive what about ...... zinc, selenium,magnesium or calcium.? .... all recommended as supplements on the ThyroidUK webpage.
I understand that although zinc is vital for thyroid hormone synthesis it is easy & dangerous to over supplement ? .... so testing zinc levels is important.
Yes Paul, I would order this test, as clutter suggested tsi graves antibodies would be goog for hyper thyroid and hashimotos sufferers. Perhaps do two seperate at cheaper cost all the thyroid antibodies, tpo, anti thyroglobulin, and tsi- graves, plus reverse t3 for 70 or 80 quid. Just a thought?
Can I ask that the existing Thyroid Plus 10 test is kept, and the Thyroid Plus 12 is in addition to it, rather than a replacement.
And on another subject, so I'm going off topic...
I would love there to be a group of tests for female sex hormones including testosterone, one for women before or during menopause and another for post-menopausal women. I don't know which hormones would be necessary for each test.
That's definitely on the list of things to do for 2016, we've got some big projects happening at Blue Horizon Medicals next year, I'll keep everyone updated. ☺
Agree with all of the above vitamin D, Graves' antibodies and zinc as some of the possibilities.
Also random suggestion. I received my results back today and I have high ferritin and on the notes it says to retest in 6 weeks. When something like this occurs, not specifically ferritin but any 'retest' matter, could there be some kind of offer or package?
Paul, Vit D would be good. I've just taken advantage of BH vacutainer offer for £80 and will need to order Vit D separately. trying to get anything other than TSH tested at GP is a battle. Shelling out £80-£100 is far less stressful but also unfair on those who can't afford it. Who can really believe that NHS is "free" to everyone when we have to take matters into our own hands. sorry for the rant!
A separate test for selenium, zinc and possibly even iodine would be good.
Don't forget that Vitamin D can be tested for £30 or so by City Assays, an NHS Lab in Birmingham. All done by post as a blood spot: vitamindtest.org.uk/
I'm with humanbean - keeping the existing Thyroid +10 and adding the RT3 into a Thyroid +something else would be ideal.
As most of us need to get other vits and minerals checked as well, how about a Thyroid +12 comprising the existing tests of the 10 and RT3 and a bolt on for an additional (selectable) vitamin or mineral check to be included?
For those thinking of hormone tests, my GP asked for mine to be done although testosterone wasn't done, but possibly because he didn't ask. I like the idea of the package, but not sure I could afford £160.
My personal preference for a test kit would be TSH, free T4, free T3, Reverse T3. I don't need antibodies because the endo did them, I can (just about) get the others checked at the GP except Vitamin D which would be nice to add.
Won't start a new thread, but for those of you interested in the female hormone profile for Menopause/Fertility we have introduced a new budget range after convincing the lab to give us a really good price and cutting our margins down real low. Sorry, no discounts on this range and we'll give it a go for December to see if it is taken up and review from there..
I think you made a tactical error by not creating a new thread about your new tests. I only just noticed this post today, and due to the lack of response I'd say other people missed it too! Perhaps you could do so now?
Oops, sorry I missed all of the great info below that which I had posted on. I had a couple of vits tested once with your company but I just got so used to never getting that which I feel is required... I pretty much forgot. Thank you so much for this great info and the stalwart efforts of Blue Horizon - excellent!
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Quick update on bloods - happy with analysis but posting for interest/comparison - also CRP info?
Reverse T3 Results
Reverse t3
Help with Interpretation of Results
